The Starting Line
Often, it’s the unplanned moments that make the biggest impact. We just completed a six-day walk along the stunning Korea Dulle Trail with Korean staff and 17 foreigners from 16 different countries. All of us walking toward a shared goal; have a life experience and to challenge ourselves. This was an unplanned trip and for most of us, fit in nicely during a transition time in our lives.
The diversity was striking—not just in language, but in the personal stories we carried along the way. Walking around 15 km a day from the top of South Korea to the bottom by paths with deep history, most of which we will never know. Every morning started with the paradox of the same sun rising everyday with the sunrise appearing so different each morning. On our walk we were full of energy at times and other times we felt heavy physically and sometimes emotionally.
One of my favorite moments was realizing that three non-Koreans, all of us speaking Korean, were conversing without a native speaker in sight. It was surreal and made me appreciate just how much we can adapt and learn when we’re open to the experience in front of us.
Walking with purpose is the only way forward.
The Path
Life often feels like a race from one event to the next, but it’s in the middle where the real magic happens. As the journey progressed, there were moments when fatigue crept in. After one meal of dumplings and buckwheat noodles, the group seemed sluggish. For me, it wasn’t just the food. It was the middle of the journey, the part where endurance is tested. My introverted side needed a recharge, but I realized that others were quietly battling their own fatigue, processing the experience in their way.
But even in these quieter moments, there was meaning. I remember kneeling down to chat with three Korean grandmas. Despite the language barrier, we shared laughs and a connection—one that transcended words.
Our Korean captain and staff treated us with a care that went unnoticed but made all the difference. They embodied the essence of leadership—listening more than they spoke and ensuring we were all comfortable and understood, even when we occasionally went off course.
During our walk when we visited the world’s only United Nations cemetery. Thought-provoking questions from our group unlocked a special tour, taking us beyond the main gravesites to where unidentified people and even North Korean soldiers were buried. It was a humbling reminder that asking the right questions at the right time can unlock new levels of understanding. But it also taught me about balance, as living in South Korea has shown me that even questions can sometimes be offensive. Knowing when and how to ask them is an art form in itself.
As I reflect, I’m reminded of past experiences like Vipassana meditation retreats and electronic music festivals, where you connect deeply without words. Vipassana taught me to see things as they are, not as I want them to be. Electronic music festivals showed me how rhythm and movement unite people. This walk felt like a merging of those two worlds, where shared silence and shared noise both had their place. Those 6 days we spent together will shape our path forward and serve as a great foundation for us to build on in this transitional time.
The Finish Line
By the end of the walk, we celebrated with medals and a closing ceremony. But looking back, it’s not about rushing from one milestone to the next. It’s about appreciating the steps in between—the conversations you have, the people you meet, the moments where you can simply be. Sometimes, all it takes is asking the right question, or being the first to strike up a conversation.
You can walk the world famous Santiago route, walk the newly opened 4,500 km trails around the circumferance of South Korea, or keep walking in your local neighorhood. The actual place you walk doesn’t matter as much as your mental state and the relationship you have to the world outside.
A note to self:
Keep moving forward.
Keep asking.
Keep walking.
Lastly remember, the real magic happens when you’re fully present in anything and everything you do. Quite often it doesn’t matter what you do, but how you do it.
Enjoy the ride.
Peace be the journey,
-Ace
One Way Grit 